Throughout Fall Semester, Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley is providing regular email update messages to keep students and parents informed about the efforts for a healthy semester.
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Summary of updates in this message
- Status update on campus and in Alamance County
- Student flu vaccine deadline is next week – Friday, October 29
- Testing for those who traveled during Fall Break
- At-home, over-the-counter, and off-campus COVID-19 tests
- New medical and mental telehealth resources for students
- Uploading COVID-19 vaccine booster shot documentation
Status Update
The university dashboard is updated on the Healthy Elon website each weekday morning.
- 7 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed among Elon students and employees over the past week, October 13-19. This compares to 21 new cases the previous 7-day period.
- As of yesterday, October 19, there were an estimated 8 active cases among Elon students and employees. This compares to 26 active cases a week ago.
- All North Carolina counties remain in the high community transmission category. The CDC and state health officials strongly recommend wearing masks in public indoor settings, including stores, restaurants, and other businesses.
Student flu vaccine deadline is next week – Friday, October 29
The deadline for students to receive their annual flu vaccine is next Friday, October 29. Students who have not fulfilled the requirement will receive additional email notification this week and should be making plans now to meet the deadline. To fulfill this requirement, students can upload proof of vaccination from an off-campus provider to the Phoenix Health portal, or request a medical/religious waiver. There is only one on-campus flu clinic remaining – registrations are full but a limited number of walk-ups will be accepted, depending upon wait time and number of vaccines available.
Testing following Fall Break
Students, faculty, and staff without symptoms can get a COVID-19 test at McCoy Commons 207 in Oaks Neighborhood. Testing times are listed on the Healthy Elon testing web page. No appointment is necessary, but wait times for walk-in testing may exist. Students who feel ill or have COVID symptoms can access walk-up symptomatic testing at Student Health Services.
At-Home, Over-the-Counter, and Off-Campus COVID-19 Tests
Students who test positive with an over-the-counter or at-home COVID-19 test are required to attend walk-in symptomatic testing in Student Health Services to verify the test. Report positive test results from an off-campus testing facility or over-the-counter/at-home test results to Student Care & Outreach by emailing quarantine-support@elon.edu.
New medical and mental telehealth resources for students
Last week the university announced the new TimelyCare telehealth program, currently available to all students. In addition to the existing university resources for Counseling Services and Student Health Services, the following new virtual services are available to Elon students, with no additional fee or cost:
- Medical: 24/7, on-demand or scheduled access to a medical provider that can treat a wide range of common illnesses like cold and flu, sinus infection, allergies, and more.
- TalkNow: 24/7, on-demand access to a mental health professional to talk about anything at any time.
Students can download the TimelyCare app and register now, using the information and access code provided in my October 12 email. Information about accessing the virtual services is also available on the websites for Counseling Services appointments and Student Health Services appointments.
Uploading COVID-19 vaccine booster shot documentation
All students, faculty, and staff who have been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for six months or more are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot. The CDC will meet later this week to discuss recommendations regarding booster shots for those who are fully vaccinated with the Moderna and J&J vaccines. There is no university requirement for booster shots at this time, but Elon students, faculty, and staff can upload vaccine documentation here by selecting “booster shot” under the status drop-down menu.
The Healthy Elon website provides important health and wellness information for students and employees, including what to do if you feel ill, test positive, or have close contact with a positive case. The site also offers responses to frequently asked questions about academics, vaccination, and employee information.
The next email update will be sent by Wednesday, October 27, at 10:45 a.m., unless an additional message is warranted before then. Detailed information is always available on the Healthy Elon website.
—
Dr. Jon Dooley
Vice President for Student Life